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Overcoming Stress, Page 3Reevaluation, Page 6

A Look Into Campus Corner, Page 7

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Photo Credit: Ben Kurland"It's for the kids."

2 • www.TheOdysseyOnline.comODYSSEYODYSSEYODYSSEY

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Wedding CrashingThe long practiced art of crashing weddings

is worth doing right if it is to be done at all. If you don’t have any experience with this I recommend brushing up on some common effective strategies by watching "Wedding Crashers" a couple times before heading out for your fi rst wedding. An effective crasher is great at thinking on the spot and working under pressure. Here are some tips to get you started:

Make sure you dress appropriately. You have to look like you’re going to a wedding; however, you don’t want to be the only person in a tuxedo. It is probably safe to go with a sharp black suit and tie.

Arrive late to the party. You don’t stand out and get caught in an uncomfortable conversation by being too early. Also,

everybody will hopefully already be inebriated by the time you arrive, which will ease your crashing experience.

Pretend that you are a distant relative. Nobody knows all of the far branches of their family tree. Just choose an obscure relation and apologize that it has been so long since you’ve seen them. Most likely they’ll feel too embarrassed to admit not recognizing you.

Compliment everybody and everything. Nobody thinks badly of somebody who praises everything at the party.

Dance with someone who looks like they need it. Not only will this score you points, but if you happen to be a skilled dancer then you will have other partners wanting to dance with you as well, which will ensure acceptance at

the party.

Pose as staff if you cannot get into the party. Pick up a tray, or bring a clipboard, and nobody will stop you from heading in. Just remain confi dent that you belong there. If asked for your invitation inside, just say that you forgot it because you were in a hurry to get there on time. If any trouble arises, never confess. Rather excuse yourself to the bar or restroom to get out of a troubling situation. As the fi lm claims, “Life’s a party." Now that you know a little more, you’re ready to get out there and start crashing!

Casey Goldman is a sophomore studying Business and chemical engineering. You may contact him at cgoldman@olympiamediagroup.com.

Wedding Crashing

CASEY GOLDMAN

Phi Kappa PsiPublisher

Alex Perlman, Phi Kappa Psi • Matthew Goldstein, Phi Kappa PsiLeann Arcori, Alpha Phi • Ben Prouty, Phi Kappa Psi • Will Pappo, Phi Kappa Psi

Interested in writing or sales? Contact Michigan@TheOdysseyOnlline.com

Casey Goldman, Phi Kappa PsiPUBLISHER

Vol.1 No.13

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com • 3STORYSTORYSTORYFeature

As we move into the holiday season, Fall semester is quickly drawing to a close. With the conclusion of another semester at Michigan comes a seemingly endless amount of papers, quizzes, homework, projects and exams. That means that the high level of stress we already have as students will only grow during the next few weeks. So, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you navigate through the rest of the semester, that can help you reduce your level of stress.

1. Get a good night’s sleep. Pulling late-nighters to cram will only hurt your performance, and you probably won’t do your best work. I know that personally, I am not productive when I do work after midnight. So, fi nd when you work best, and plan to study during those hours. Know when you won’t do your best work, and try to fi ll that time with other activities.

2. Eat well-balanced meals. Filling up on sugar, caffeine and all food that is bad for you will not only make you feel gross, but not eating properly can actually affect your performance and concentration as well. Make sure to eat three meals a day and drink lots of water, too.

3. Exercise. This is perhaps one of the best things you can do to kick stress. However, don’t put 100% into your workouts, because you might make your body more tired than normal, which can take away from your studies.

4. Cut down on the alcohol for a while. Even if you don’t feel it, drinking takes a lot out of you and takes a toll on your health. Besides, studying with a hangover is next to impossible.

5. Plan ahead. Start mapping out how you will spend your time in the next few days. Line up tutors, study groups, when

you will go to offi ce hours, etc. now so that you don’t stress about having to cram everything in later.

6. Make time for good friends and family. They can be great resources for unwinding and can help take your mind off of school.

7. Take breaks from studying. Ideally, you should take a break for about 10 minutes per every hour of studying. If your f raterni ty/sorori ty house or residence hall provides any type of snack/study

break during fi nals, go to it! These breaks can be a great way to have a little bit of fun and catch up with friends.

Lindsey Mandich is a sophomore studying political science and English. You may contact her at lmandich@umich.edu.

Overcoming Stress

LINDSEYMANDICH

Delta Delta DeltaContributing Editor

4 • www.TheOdysseyOnline.comTRADITIONTRADITIONTRADITIONGreek Life

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rWhere to Live?

Whether you know it or not, it is about that time of year to make fi nal decisions about where you want to live next year. Think about it once, twice or even thrice because the decision is a crucial one, believe it or not. You are not only choosing where you want to reside for an entire school year, but also who and what will surround you. True, you might have a room to yourself in the frat house, but a fraternity can be a dangerously infectious environment, for better or worse.

Often, fraternity brothers are some of the closest college friends we have. Thus, it is hard to turn down the option to live with them

in a house with virtually zero rules. But think for a second. You have to decide what is best for yourself: what will be the most conducive environment for me to succeed in the coming year? And, am I striving for social success or academic success? Think carefully.

Living in-house provides you with an abundance of positives. You can party all the time, all of your friends are only steps away, and your house will probably be somewhat centrally located to campus. You will even be provided some meals where you

will be able to sit and eat with your bros. However, all of these benefi ts come with

some overwhelming odds and challenges.

Will you really be able to get all of your schoolwork done in a house that is not necessarily going to be clean and quiet most hours of the day? Home; the place where you return to after exhausting days in class, should be a place where you can get peace of mind and organize your thoughts. Not everyone is built to “frat” hard every day of the week, and if you are not, the big thing to do is be honest with yourself about that.

Even if you do not live in the house, it is not the biggest deal. Living out-of-house comes with its own benefi ts as well. You will have your own bathroom, space and maybe even a kitchen at your fi ngertips. The house is still there for you as much as you want it to be, which is why you have your brothers. Because you will not be at the house as much, when you are there you will also feel more inclined

to catch up with your brothers, because you haven’t seen them in some time. Living in your own space also gives you the opportunity to be more independent and grow as an individual. The choice of where to live next year is subjective to the individual, but deserves a good amount of thought no matter who it is.

Ben Seidman is a sophomore studying undecidedology. You may contact him at benseido@umich.edu.BENJAMIN

SEIDMANAlpha Epsilon Pi

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com • 5PHILANTHROPY

This past week the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and the Tri Delta sorority mobilized their philanthropic efforts for the benefi t of Motts Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. On Thursday they enjoyed an entertaining yet extensive pong tournament that fi elded more than 80 teams, one Phi Psi and one Tri Delta per team. In total, they raised over $1,000 from entry fees and additional contributions. In the end of a grueling tournament, Benjamin Prouty and Michelle Sepanski persevered as champions.

On Sunday, as a means of providing something more personal, the two houses paired up to make blankets for the children at Motts. In total twenty blankets were made.With pizza at the table, each other's company, and magnifi cent piano playing throughout the afternoon, the atmosphere was wonderful. As

a testament to how amazing these blankets were, Phi Psi's and Tri Deltas could be found all afternoon snuggled together under them. I know I speak for everyone who participated this week when saying it is great to give back especially when "it's for the kids." I really implore anyone in the mood to do something good, to just do it. No matter what the scale or the signifi cance it has, knowing that you changed someone else's life in a positive way is a fantastic feeling. I am not advocating doing something good so you can feel good about yourself, I am advocating everyone's potential to help make this world a better place. As Philanthropy Chair for Phi Psi I have been fortunate enough to watch so many people realize their capacity to actually do something good for this world and its people, and that in itself is rewarding.

I will be the fi rst to admit that in my life I have not always been about giving back. I dreaded the 60 hours of community service hours I needed to graduate high school. What I think is often overlooked when people are deciding whether or not to go Greek, is the philanthropy that every house on campus does. Speaking as someone who was not altruistically inclined, going Greek was the best decision I made in this regard. I cannot see myself being as driven to helping the community if it was not for the Brotherhood of Phi Psi. Go Greek, give back, and remember, it's for the kids.

Benjamin Kurland is a sophomore studying political science. You may contacthim at bkurland@umich.edu.

It's For the Kids

Ben KurlandPhi Kappa Psi

6 • www.TheOdysseyOnline.comCOMMUNITY SERVICE

Alternative Spring Break

When we think of spring break, the image that most of us conjure up in our heads is pretty similar: Lying on a beach (drink in hand) during the day and raging all night long for a week straight. While this image is extremely enticing, I have to admit that I’ll be doing something a little different from the norm this spring. While the majority of my friends are off partying in some exotic destination, I’ll be heading to cold and snowy Kansas City, Missouri. I know what you must be thinking…why would you choose that over someplace warm and, for lack of

a better word, fun? No, I’m not crazy - I’m just going on Alternative Spring Break!

Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of ASB…I’m sure most students haven’t. I wouldn’t have known about it unless a random friend from class hadn’t told me about it. ASB is a program through the Ginsberg Center that offers students a chance to participate in a community service experience during the normal spring break of an academic calendar. There are sites all over the United States (New York, Chicago, Miami, etc.) and some in Mexico that focus on a variety of societal issues. Once being accepted

into the ASB program (deadlines for this year have already passed, but keep it in

mind for the future), you spend a few months learning about your destination and getting to know your group members. Then once spring break rolls around, you take a road trip with the rest of your group to volunteer for a week.

One of the coolest things about this program is that it only costs $125 to participate. While I would otherwise be blowing X amount of money each night on a typical vacation, instead I get to really make a difference in the lives of others for a small price to pay (scholarships and fee waivers are available to those that qualify). During the months leading up to spring break, your group members raise money to help the university cover the costs of food and lodging, but you won’t be required to pay a cent over the $125 payment. Saving money and saving the world? Yea, that sounds pretty cool to me.

If you’re at all interested in ASB check

out the website at ginsberg.umich.edu/serve/asb. I hope that I’ve inspired at least a few of you to take advantage of this incredible opportunity. While you might not get a tan during your ASB experience, I’m sure you’ll make some unforgettable memories.

Olivia Quinn is a sophomore studying English and economics. You may contact her at oliviaq@umich.edu.OLIVIA QUINN

Delta Delta Delta

ReevaluationLast week, in the midst of a minor

panic attack I decided to reevaluate my life. And despite what the introduction of this article may sound like, I’m not using my column as a forum for my personal philosophical anecdotes. As many have said, and many will say again, as college students we need to step back from our hectic schedules and fi nd the source of our stress.

Everyone is well aware that we go to the University of Michigan: an institution that does not take academic obligations lightly. Despite the fact that academic stress is a large part of everyday life, other commitments abound. I challenge you to fi nd another Greek Community in the nation who studies, volunteers, and of course, parties as much as we do. Greek obligations (social and institutional responsibilities) are real. When coupled

with the everyday stress of collegiate life, they can feel overwhelming.

When I reexamined what I accomplish during any given day, there are obviously numerous areas I could improve. Many may contend checking Facebook hourly is a horrid choice in time-management. Obviously this is true, but there are other areas that could be utilized more effectively. Obviously I don’t foresee myself conjugating Spanish verbs while taking a shower, but walks to class, meals and other “down-times” can be turned into a productive period.

The most important thing I found is that I don’t take enough time for; myself. This doesn’t mean I need to read Cosmopolitan while taking a bubble bath (although, in an attempt not to offend a certain genre of readers, I’m sure the act is very relaxing). It means that I’ve found my best days are

ones that include a run, calling my family, and in general making a point to de-stress.

When you step back and look at your life, many of the pulls you feel are in reality nothing more than a matter of perception. If you are organized and work diligently, you will manage. Ten years down the road, you’re not going to remember the political science paper that’s due next week, you’re going to remember the times outside of academic stress and

commitments. Though Greek life provides a social outlet, we need to take more time for ourselves.

Eaghan Davis is a freshman interested in pre-business and english. You may contact him at daviseas@umich.edu.

EAGHANDAVIS

Phi Kappa Psi

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com • 7TALK ABOUTTALK ABOUTTALK ABOUT

Something to

The Odyssey: When did you get the idea for CC?

Joe: In 1997, my brother Gus and I were looking for a business we could call our own. After graduating from a small college in Michigan, we realized the fun market college towns provided and came to Ann Arbor.

The Odyssey: Is there a history behind the location?

Joe: The Building was built in 1896 as a train station service store. It soon became a general store in Ann Arbor, and has continued in this capacity to this day.

The Odyssey: Where has the store grown the most since you bought it in 1997?

Joe: We started as a basic liquor store with a few food items. Soon, we realized we needed to expand to directly fi t the needs of the students on campus. Today

have over 1000 types of liquor, 250 different beers from all over the world to right here in Ann Arbor and 200 kinds of wine. But were not only a liquor store, we want to be your one stop college shopping center. We have every type of

snack, party and home supply; even fresh fruit and produce when the seasons right. And if we don’t have something, just ask and we’ll get it in the store within a week.

The Odyssey: What’s your favorite memory of CC?

Joe: In 2002, the fi fth year of owning Campus Corner, we woke up as we always do at 7 a.m. for the Michigan State Game. By 9 a.m., nearly twenty of our friends who recently graduated came to the store to say hello and see how things were going. To have so many people we never expected to see after graduation visit was incredible. Now, every big game we have alumni come in and say hello, it’s always great to see them and hear where their lives led them.

The Odyssey asks You: What do you think of Campus Corner?

Andrew Haddad, Alpha Delta Phi: “With Campus Corner right on central campus, I can run there whenever I want to stock up on food for the weekend.”

Olivia Hodgekiss, Delta Delta Delta: “Joe and Gus are the nicest people ever. Even as an out-of- state student, they make Ann Arbor feel like home.”

Sean Jackson is a sophomore studying economics and

psychology. You maycontact him at stjack@umich.edu.

SEAN JACKSONPhi Kappa Psi

JACKSON

A look into Campus Corner (CC), with owner Joe Kraim.

8 • www.TheOdysseyOnline.comTALK ABOUTTALK ABOUTTALK ABOUTSomething to

Avoiding the Awkward SilenceIt’s a simple concept;

sitting down and doing what most of us live for- eating. I would do a lot of things I am not proud of for a box of whoppers and a plate of brussel sprouts. I think I can safely say that food is the common knot that ties us all together. I don’t care if Jenny Craig is your best friend, if you tell me you don’t die inside when the person next to you at a movie theater has buttered popcorn and you bought the “healthy choice” carrots and celery tub, you are lying- plain and simple. But for some reason, when we sit down at a dinner table food becomes our Kryptonite; we suddenly lose our social skills.

Even when we eat with our best friends, it is frightening how often the weather comes up. It’s like, Yes, there is a 30% chance of rain but there is also a 100% chance that I am sitting here panicking because I can’t think of something more interesting to talk to you about.

Conversations to Bring up at the Dinner Table.

Disney Channel Original Movies: I swear, just mention one, and it becomes an undeclared competition to name as many as you can remember. Between that and Nickelodeon shows from the 90s, people becoming

frighteningly proud of their knowledge of "Motocrossed," "Hey Arnold," and "Don’t Look Under the Bed."

“Oh my gosh, I’m so tired:” How many times do you say that in a day as a conversation fi ller? All rules apply at the

dinner table. I don’t care if you just had fi ve Red Bulls, I’d rather you lie than sit there in awkward silence.

Have you met a celebrity? TELL ME!: I know- it gets really annoying when people

sit around and talk about famous people they’ve met. But we all know that when the other person at the table is talking about that one time they saw PDiddy from 250 feet away at a Walgreens and almost went up to him, we are sitting there ignoring what they are saying and waiting to tell our own stories. Guess what? The second they fi nish and we open our mouths, they ignore us too and come up with another story for us to, yet again, ignore. Goodbye, silence!

Erica Salmirs is a junior studying economics and environmental studies. You may contact her at esalmirs@umich.edu.

ERICA SALMIRSChi Omega

"I think I can safely say that food is the common knot that ties us all together."

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com • 9TALK ABOUTTALK ABOUTTALK ABOUT

Something to

Weather WoesIs it just me, or does the weather in

Ann Arbor have a bad case of bipolar disorder? I fi nd myself absolutely freezing walking to my 10 a.m. class in the uniform North Face fl eece, leggings, and Uggs; and on the verge of stripping my clothes off and streaking down South U by noon. Okay, so maybe that’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but I have to wonder how the November weather can leave frost on the grass in the morning and make me want to run to Fuller Pool in the afternoon! This predicament always leaves me wondering… What to wear!?

After surveying a few of my friends, these are the two must-haves to keep the pathological weather from sending you on a roller coaster of conditions from the heat fl ash to a total body freeze:

Hat and Gloves: Until it reaches below freezing temperatures, it may not be absolutely necessary to whip out the

North Face down jacket (although I hate to admit I already have once or twice when the high 30s were just too cold to handle). Instead, it’s more functional to wear a lighter jacket as long as you have a hat and gloves. Your head and your hands are two major areas of body heat, so failing to cover those up will translate into fi re engine red ears and dry, crocodile hands (gross). A hood and your pockets would be a potential alternative, except for the fact that when the wind starts to blow, your hood won’t stay up and your hands will be forced out of your pockets to pull it back up every ten to fi fteen seconds.

Layers: Layers, layers, layers! Has anybody else had one of those super uncomfortable times when you’ve have thrown a big sweatshirt over a tiny tank top to run to class in the cold, and the moment you walk into the building and sit down, you feel like you’ve just entered a sauna? And worst of all, you’re stuck

in it for the next hours because removing your sweatshirt would mean sitting in front of your classmates half naked? I can’t even count how many times this has happened to me, so remember to layer your clothes! A long sleeved shirt and a zip-up sweatshirt with a fl eece on top will help you brave the cold on that treacherous walk to the MLB, but you can take off articles of clothing once you’re comfortably inside room temperature.

So for veterans of Michigan’s arctic temperatures, prepare yourself for yet another chilly

season. And freshmen, brace yourselves, because this is only the beginning of a long and often brutal winter.

Samantha Scharmett is a junior studying French and communications. You may contact her at samariel@umich.edu. SAMANTHA

SCHARMETTSigma Delta Tau

10 • www.TheOdysseyOnline.comTALK ABOUTTALK ABOUTTALK ABOUTSomething to

I’d consider myself a busy girl. I’m sure that most people in Greek life would consider themselves busy. Lectures, discussions, papers, exams, extracurriculars, chapter meetings, mixers, date parties, football games (go blue), maintaining personal hygiene… All of these things take their toll on the human body. Outside of college life, most obligations can be fulfi lled in a period generally between 8 a.m. and 9 or 10 p.m., a pretty consistent schedule, followed by a nice long slumber to prepare for the next day. But if someone were to ask me about my sleeping schedule (an event that I could never imagine happening in a realistic situation), I would not have an answer. The most accurate response would be, “I sleep when I can.” Without naptime, I would be a zombie, but because zombies don’t exist, I would actually pass away from exhaustion. Being awake all day and simultaneously being nocturnal is an unsustainable lifestyle. I speak from experience. That’s why naps are a college student’s most important weapon in fending off insanity/death.

The greatest thing about naps is, they can happen at any time, and if you’ve ever been to The Dude, you know they can also happen anywhere. Most people don’t have a regular nap schedule because the “sleep when you can” motto arises out of necessity and is constantly evolving based on a number of factors. Freshman Margaret Cox says she naps because most weekdays, she is “up until the morning, whether it’s because of homework or Facebook.” She is one of the many who have used the University’s libraries to catch those elusive Zzz’s. “I fell asleep on the fi rst fl oor of the UGLi in those comfy chairs at 9 a.m. one morning,” she said.

Academic pressures account for a large portion of college students’ abnormal sleep patterns. A few nights ago, I saw a girl brushing her teeth in the bathroom of the Duderstadt. The reason she had to maintain her dental hygiene in a library is because of the insane hours many students are holed up in the stacks. It is the odd

timing and the sheer quantity of hours that make naps our only reliable, realistic method of accomplishing work without completely burning out. “Sometimes I take a 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. nap and then get straight back to work” says Freshman Brittlyn Tyler. “I nap all the time because I don’t have time to actually sleep.”

Weekend naps are just as necessary, but for different reasons. Freshman Madeline Chais summed up the importance of weekend naps quite concisely. “My weekends wouldn’t be the

same without naps. No way could I go out three nights a week without some serious naptime,” said Chais. Friday and Saturday (and sometimes Thursday), are jam-packed with mixers, sports games, parties and other events. Awesome, huh?! The only issue with these few needed days of leisure is that sleep does not usually stack up high on the list of priorities. After a week spent writing a research paper in Arabic alone in a corner of the grad library, socialization with someone other than a librarian seems more essential than retreating back to your place of residence. This is where the nap comes in. “After the football game I come home and take a nap and then I get up and go out or do work,” said Tyler. Intervals of 2-3 hour naps between events usually power us through Friday and Saturday. Sleeping late on Sunday is rare for many students who need that time to prepare for the week. And then the cycle repeats.

Like many students, I depend on my phone to awaken me from these brief respites. As research for this article, I counted the number of alarms I have saved on my phone for when I can’t read one more page of Philosophy. Starting at 5:00 a.m., I have 33 alarms, ending at 1:45 a.m. Hey, who said the daily eight hours need to be consecutive? I’m still kickin’. For now…

Jenny Hinkle is a freshman studying English. You may contact her at jrhinkle@umich.edu.

NaptimeNaptime

JENNY HINKLESigma Kappa

www.TheOdysseyOnline.com • 11TALK ABOUTTALK ABOUTTALK ABOUT

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The Most Anticipated Home-Cooked Meal of the YearI can’t decide if its Ina Garten’s, Rachel

Ray’s, or Paula Dean’s recipes on the Food Network Channel that grab the attention of my hunger senses the most. The months of October through December are truly the time of year in which we turn to food for comfort, or maybe that’s just me, but either way bear with me on this concept. While I shuffl e through my Christmas jingles playlist on iTunes along with the online shopping sales that so conveniently appear the moment Halloween is over, I tend to forget one of my favorite Holidays of the year: Thanksgiving, duh.

After eating way too much turkey than was healthy last week, I came to the realization that some of the best recipes come around during the months of November and December, due to the special celebration of that ever-so-famous feast shared by the Pilgrims and Native Americans, (by the way, thanks for that guys). Whether it's a spin-off of traditional green bean casserole, or a

pumpkin-fl avored something or another, my taste buds are pretty much tantalized by any type of food associated with the whole “baby-its-cold-outside-hot cocoa-drinking-and-snuggling-by-the-fi re” kind of season. Simply by scrolling through the Food Network website I spy pictures of sweet potato pie, links to recipes for about 16 different types of stuffi ng, butternut squash and apple soup, “velvety” mashed potatoes and of course a how to make the best turkey you’ve ever made page. You are completely lying to me if you say you don’t buckle at the knees when thinking about the Thanksgiving feast each year made by your family. You must think I’m obsessed with food, oh wait, I am.

Despite the elaborate twists made on all of the traditional recipes that surface for Turkey Day, I’d eat my mom’s recipes over all of the other tasty dishes that I religiously watch being made on T.V. When it comes to Thanksgiving, all we college students really want is that home-

cooked meal we’ve been dying for; food that we recognize, a meal that doesn’t involve a suspicious international theme, and something we can actually watch being made, or make ourselves. After having a deep Thanksgiving discussion with my close friend, Sidney Migoski after we got back from being home, she told me, “While my favorite food on Thanksgiving was either the stuffi ng or pumpkin pie, what I love about this holiday the most didn’t involve a specifi c course of the meal. It was the yummy smell that wafted through my house, baking with my parents and siblings, and being able to join my entire family at the

dinner table realizing how thankful we really were to be there with each other.”

It was counting down the fi nal days until I got to feast on some of my favorite things that motivated me to get through the last few classes and exams. I hope all of you had a relaxing break and enjoyed spending time at home, and I think the time has come to unfortunately have to break out the winter coats. At least, we’ll be able to hide how much we all consumed last week with more layers.

Kendall Szczerba is a sophomore studying pre-medicine and majoring in Spanish. You may contact her at szczerba@umich.edu.

KENDALL SZCZERBA

Delta Delta Delta

12 • www.TheOdysseyOnline.comFITNESSFITNESSFITNESSHealth &

If you have ever seen an episode of the Jersey Shore, you know The Situation's life motto is Gym, Tan, Laundry, or GTL for short. Believe it or not, we can all learn the most important concept to getting in shape through GTL. The key to getting in shape does not have to do with the tanning or laundry, but the phrase as a whole.

What I mean by that is, GTL, is a ROUTINE that this guy lives by. The most important part of getting in shape is actually doing something about it on a regular basis. Here is another way to think about it: for everyday you do a physical activity that you believe counts as a workout, you can give yourself +1 point. For every day you

do not do anything, you can give yourself -1 point. And lastly, for any day that you drink at night you can give yourself another -1 point. Tally it up at the end of the week and a positive value means you are doing well, while a negative value means you have taken a step backwards. Obviously this doesn’t pose an exact science for getting in shape but you can get the basic idea.

While some people can go to the gym day after day, and never get sick of it, other people need to

mix it up. If you get sick of the cardio machine, try running outside. Try varying up the distances. Run 4x400m sprints or try challenging a friend to 100 m sprints and do a best of 7 series. Try jogging a

5k. Try cycling through the trails or going for a swim. Give rock-climbing a shot. Grab some friends and try out a new class that the CCRB has to offer. Try out a

new sport such as: volleyball, basketball, soccer, touch-rugby, tennis, etc...These are all sports that do not take very long to learn, and are all easy to play. It you are into weight training, mix it up. Try doing

barbell circuits, dumbbell circuits, body weight circuits, bodybuilding, power lifting, Olympic lifting.

Whatever it is you are into, or not into, get out there and at least do something. Make it a routine to throw something in the middle of your day that gets you moving. Make an acronym out of it if you have to.

Sean Yang is a sophomore studying Finance. You may contact him at yangsean@umich.edu.

Gym, Tan, Laundry

SEAN YANGSigma Alpha Epsilon

"Whatever it is you are into, or not into, get out there and at least do something. Make it a routine to throw something in the middle of your day that gets you moving."

It seems that winter is once again rearing its' ugly head here in Ann Arbor. As it gets colder and colder, the will to walk around outside at night wanes… especially if you’re in the habit of sporting open-toed heels and sleeveless shirts or dresses. For those nights that you simply can’t fi nd it in you to grab your frat jacket and head out into the bitterness, there are a few great movies that will be glad to keep you company as you don your sweats on the couch (in the heat).

Do yourself a huge favor, and go buy "Elf." Although you’ve probably already seen it a thousand times, there’s nothing quite like watching Will Farrell prance around in bright yellow tights, conversing with animated animals and shoving cookies into VCRs. It’s defi nitely one of those kids movies that I could watch on repeat. We may be a few weeks away from Christmas, but the movie is just too

cute for me to pass up – no matter what time of year it is.

Another great movie to spend some quality warming time with is "Fargo," if not for anything more than the fact that it will probably make you feel a lot better about your current weather situation. If you’re unaware, the movie is named after the small town in North Dakota (yes, ND is a real place) where the weather is bad and the accents are worse. If you’re into a little dark humor, it’s defi nitely a good fi nd, and a throwback all the way from 1996. PS, this movie may never allow you to look at wood chippers the same – ever.

If you’d rather spend your cold night in, imagining a time when the sun will actually shine (spring break can’t come fast enough, right?), watching "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" just never gets old. Not only is it an extremely funny fi lm, but

it’s also set almost entirely in Hawaii, so you can spend plenty of time drooling over the scenery.

My fi nal movie suggestion is not at all seasonal – it’s just a great movie. Although you’ll have to deal with reading subtitles (it’s mostly in Italian), "Life is Beautiful" is a fantastic movie about a Jewish family (especially a father and son) dealing with the trials of the holocaust. Even though the movie covers a miserable topic, it somehow manages to be witty and quick, making it one of the best movies I have

ever seen. It’s worth the subtitle reading, I assure you.

Of course, there are other things you can do to keep warm this winter, but we all know that sometimes, the greatest part of the day is plopping down on the couch for some veg-out time. Happy viewing!

Kylie Kagen is a sophomore studying communications. You may contact her at knkagen@umich.edu.

KYLIE KAGENAlpha Delta Pi

Originally an Italian-Belgian duo, Aeroplane makes thoughtful, well-produced electronic remixes and originals. The fi rst song to spark my interest was the remix of Flight Facilities? song Crave You featuring Giselle. In the song, Giselle croons about being noticed by everyone except the boy she craves. The smooth baseline and light percussion compliment her voice fl awlessly. Some jazzy horns get thrown in towards the middle, completing the feel of a sultry blues ballad.

However, the recent phenomenon is the song Without Lies featuring Sky Ferriera. The song is nothing short of sexy. Sky's sultry voice with simplistic backing creates a slower-paced, yet addicting melody line. On a tangent, if you haven't heard of Sky Ferriera, she's quite an interesting character. Hailing from L.A. she's a little girl with a mature voice. Only 17, she looks like a model in her twenties. Her cover of Miike Snow's "Animal" involving only a piano and her soulful voice grabbed the attention of the blogging world. With the

release of her dance single "One," she's on the path to fame.

Visit http://umich-music.blogspot.com/ to hear the tracks.

Kristine Colosimo is a junior studying communications and American culture. You may contact her at kacolosi@umich.edu.

Artist Spotlight:

KRISTINE COLOSIMO

Sigma Kappa

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Aeroplane (and Sky Ferriera)